Chapter 16: A Chance Encounter of Pleasure

Komer leaned quietly against the headboard, his muscular chest revealing that he was no longer the frail youth of two years ago. A silk nightgown covered his body, hiding the fact that just two years prior he had been a exile in the barren lands of the Caucasus. Now, he was considered a prominent figure throughout the Kingdom of Nicosia.

Even in the noble families of major cities like Jazair or Gutenberg, silk nightgowns were rare luxuries. They were said to be made from a liquid secreted by insects on the vast continent of Mang, dried and woven into garments that were not only smooth and delicate but also extremely light and breathable. They had become a popular trend among nobles, yet they were exceedingly scarce. Cargo ships from Mang’s colonies could carry only three or five pieces as eye-catching items, each priced at thousands of gold shields—truly a case of “every inch worth its weight in gold.”

The calm after the storm allowed Komer to appreciate in detail the woman standing by the window. Her rounded buttocks formed a graceful curve along her slender waist. Her bare back could no longer be described as smooth and sleek. The afternoon sunlight streamed in through the eaves, casting a soft pink glow. Her courtly hairstyle seemed slightly disheveled from the storm earlier, with a few strands of hair falling across her smooth shoulders. Her long legs flowed into full hips, and the subtle groove between them was faintly visible in the sunlight, stirring deep emotions within him.

Komer never expected such an unexpected opportunity for pleasure. Although Kakiya was beautiful, he had always declined such women out of respect. But when such a woman offered herself willingly, it was hard for him to refuse. Though he knew there might be troubles ahead, facing such a beauty, he couldn’t find any reason to say no—everything seemed inevitable. The wild fantasies he had imagined did not materialize; instead, Kakiya’s inexperience surprised him. The princess, known for her promiscuity, was actually a virgin—this made it difficult for Komer to proceed. Though noble women didn’t place much importance on such things, she was still a descendant of the pure-blooded Romanov family. Consuming her would likely have serious consequences.

Yet in the end, lust overcame reason. Komer didn’t want to back down at this moment. Even if it meant paying a price, he had no choice but to accept it. Stopping now would be too humiliating for a man.

Even Komer didn’t know when Kakiya had stepped to the window, her naked body exposed to the outside. Though it was the back garden of his own residence and no outsiders could be present, such a shocking act still took Komer by surprise. With a soft sigh, Komer got up and put a nightgown on her. Even without love, it didn’t mean the two couldn’t get along peacefully. Everyone had desires, only differing in emphasis. Komer understood her intentions; in his view, though this method might be unsuitable for outsiders, it was straightforward and wouldn’t cause annoyance.
“Komer, now you can talk about your conditions, right?” Gently, she threw the blood-stained white silk from the window. The red and white ribbon drifted down in the wind under the sunlight, silently falling among the garden’s branches and leaves. Kakiya appeared exceptionally calm. After passion, one could often view and analyze problems more rationally—at least that’s what Kakiya believed she could do.
“Kakiya, do you think I’m deliberately making things difficult for you and trying to extract something?” Komer felt anger rise inside him. Though he already understood her personality, such pragmatism was still hard for him to accept.
“If I’ve misunderstood, I apologize, but I want to know your true thoughts. I need your help. Palermo told me you weren’t ready—is that really the case? If so, what do you need to be ready?” Kakiya ignored the pretense in Komer’s eyes and spoke directly.
With a self-mocking smile, Komer shook his head. “It seems Palermo misunderstood me. I only said I needed more time to prepare. I never said I couldn’t be ready, nor did I think about what was needed to do so. Since you put it that way, I’d like to ask—what kind of preparation do you consider complete?”
Unexpecting Komer’s frankness, Kakiya was momentarily stunned before saying, “Komer, you should know what I need most right now. What have you promised me? Now that things have reached this point, I have no way back. I need your support and help—only you can provide it. If you want to go back on your word, I have nothing to say.”
Komer sighed. It seemed Princess Kakiya held a very deep prejudice against him, one mixed with fear and distrust, making him feel like a complete failure as a person.

“Of course, I certainly know what His Highness needs most. But I always thought I was already prepared. However, I need His Highness to clearly indicate when the best time is for them to appear, otherwise it could cause too many negative effects. I’m afraid it might harm His Highness’s great cause,” Komer said helplessly, shrugging his shoulders.

“Oh?” Her spirits soared suddenly. A blush reappeared on Kakiya’s face, and her bright eyes fixed intently on Komer’s, as if trying to detect any signs of deception. “You mean you’re completely prepared? Where are they? In the Caucasus?”

Komer, with a wry smile, couldn’t help but lower his head in sigh. It seemed that trust in his character had dropped to a very low level, proving just how poor his image was in the eyes of these nobles.

“Well, His Highness, it seems that mere words from me won’t be enough to dispel your doubts. To prove my sincerity, I’d like to invite His Highness to visit the area south of the Zuke Valley,” Komer said, shrugging. “I believe that after this inspection, His Highness will be at ease.”

The joy and excitement brought back by Kakiya’s southern tour kept her awake all night. The 2,000 fierce half-orc soldiers were well-organized and disciplined. Although Kakiya didn’t understand military affairs, from the drills conducted by those orc officers, she could tell this was by no means a ragtag group. Beyond the half-orcs’ strong physiques, their skilled tactical formations and high morale put her worries to rest. The only thing that disappointed her was their small number of 2,000. If such an army had 5,000 to 10,000 soldiers, she was confident she could immediately win the crown she had long dreamed of.